Prayer rail



W. F. LISKA May 17, 1938.

PRAYER RAIL Filed Dec. 30, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 17, 1938. w. LISKA2,117,430

PRAYER RAIL Filed Dec. 30, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 17, 1938UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE PRAYER RAIL Application December 30, 1936,Serial No. 118,288

Claims.

This invention relates to a prayer rail and particularly to a device ofthe character described which may be readily transported manually fromplace to place.

One object of the present invention is to provide a structure of thecharacter described, which is of suitable size and proportions when inuse, and which may be readily folded into a comparatively small space ofminimum dimensions for convenient handling and transporting or movingthe device from one location to another.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure wherein theelements comprising the structure are permanently connected together andsuitably arranged to permit of their being positioned in operativerelationship to provide a safe and efficient structure, and to permit oftheir being folded to provide a package of relatively smaller size forconvenient handling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure wherein thevarious elements are so connected, and capableof being so manipulatedthat by a single manual operation or movement of one of the elements,the remaining elements of the structure may be moved relatively intofolded relationship.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure whereincertain of the elements, when folded with respect to each other, are sopositioned as to provide a locking arrangement for releasably securingthe elements of the entire structure in folded position.

A still further object of the invention is to improve devices of thecharacter described in sundry details hereinafter referred to andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One embodiment of the invention is shown for illustrative purposes inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved prayer rail embodying features ofthe present invention, and showing the various parts of.,the, structurein open or operative position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1 showing theparts in closed, folded or inoperative position;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevational view of the structureillustrated in Fig. 1, and taken substantially as indicated by the line3-3 thereof Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view of the prayer rail infolded position, and taken substantially as indicated by the line 4-4 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view, partly in section, ofone end portion of the prayer rail taken substantially as indicated bythe line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the structureillustrated in Fig. 3, and taken substantially as indicated by the line6-6 there of.

The illustrative embodiment of the present invention shown in thedrawings, comprises a back portion indicated, as a whole, by the numeral1 andcomprising upright supporting members 8 adjacent its ends andshown, in the present instance, as formed, preferably, of tubular stockof substantially rectangular cross-section, the members 8 beingconnected together by a back plate 9 and having an arm rest Ii extendingacross the upper edge portion of the back, and having rear supportinglegs I2 adjacent the lower portion thereof. 7

The back 9 is also provided with upper and lower forwardly extendingprojections I3 and M, respectively, to which are connected by means ofpivot pins I5 and IS, the upper and lower portions, respectively, of apair of side frames, each indicated, as a whole, by the numeral l1 andhaving front leg members l8 secured to the forward portion thereof.

Pivotally mounted also on the projections M of the back 1 is a knee restindicated, as a whole, by the numeral I!) provided adjacent its oppositeends with rearwardly extending brackets pivotally connected to theprojections M by means of horizontally disposed pivot pins 2| in amanner to permit the knee rest 19 to be swung upwardly and rearwardlytoward the back 1, and mounted on the respective side frames ll,preferably adjacent the forward portion thereof, are a pair ofsupporting members or lugs 22 adapted to engage the brackets 20 forsupporting the knee rest in operative position as illustrated in Figs.1, 3 and 5.

The side frames I! are each shown, in the present instance, as providedon their respective upper end portions, preferably adjacent the pivotpins !5, with laterally extending arms 23 adapted to extend inwardlytoward each other and to be engaged by actuating members or fingers 24forming a portion of the knee rest when the knee rest is swung in anupwardly direction toward the back 1, thereby swinging the side framesll toward each other and into substantially parallel relation withrespect to the back I as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4. When the kneerest 19 is swung in the opposite direction, the fingers 24 adjacent theends of the kneerest will engage the side frames H in a manner to swingthem outwardly ,55

or away from each other until the limit of their outward movement isreached, which may be determined by a stop portion 25 (Fig. 6) formed onthe projections l4 being engaged by a portion 26 of the side frames 11,at which time the side frames will be in a position to permit thebrackets 20 to engage the supports or lugs 22 on the side frames I! forsupporting the knee rest I9 in operative position.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 2 that when the knee rest l9 andfingers 24 mounted thereon are folded with respect to the back I in amanner to position the fingers 24 in alignment with and between the endsof the arms 23, that the side frames I! will be locked or removablysecured against outward or unfolding movement until such time as theknee rest l9 and fingers 24 have been moved away from the back I in adirection to engage the arms I! and move them outwardly as indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby providing releasable securing means forretaining the various elements of the structure in folded position untilthe knee rest has been moved to unfold or move the elements to operativeposition, as shown in Figs. 1', 3 and 5 of the drawings.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the presentinvention provides a novel construction and arrangement in a foldingprayer rail whereby the knee rest [9 may be moved into substantiallyparallel relation with respect to the back, and in so moving the kneerest, the side frames I! will be automatically swung into foldedposition in parallel relation to the back and secured in such positionby reason of the position of the knee rest l9 and fingers 24 withrelation to the arms 23, and that merely by moving the knee rest awayfrom the back toward operative position, the side frames I! will beswung outwardly to the limit of their movement, determined by the stops25 for supporting the knee rest and the entire structure in operativeposition.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the preciseconstruction and arrangement shown and described as the same may bevariously modified. Moreover, all the features of the invention need notbe used conjointly as the same may be used to advantage in variouslydifferent combinations and subcombinations.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a folding prayer rail, the combination of a back, a pair of sideframes pivotally mounted on said back, and a knee rest pivotally mountedon said back and having portions engageable with portions of therespective side frames for swinging said frames on their respectivepivots-when the knee rest is swung on its pivot towards said back.

2. In a folding prayer rail, the combination of a back, an arm restthereon, a pair of side frames pivotally mounted on said back adjacentthe respective ends thereof, and a knee rest pivotally mounted on saidback adjacent the lower portion thereof and having portions engageablerespectively, with a portion of each of the respective side frames forswinging said frames on their respective pivots when said knee rest isswung about its pivot toward said back.

3. In a folding prayer rail, the combination of a back, an arm restthereon, a pair of side frames pivotally mounted on said back adjacentthe respective ends thereof, a knee rest pivotally mounted on said backadjacent the lower portion thereof and having portions engageable withportions of the respective side frames for swinging said frames inwardlyon their respective pivots when said knee rest is swung about its pivottoward said back, means on said side frames for supporting the forwardportion of. said knee rest in operative position, and cooperating stopportions on the respective side frames and back for limiting the outwardmovement of said frames.

4. In a folding prayer rail, the combination of a back, a pair of sideframes pivotally mounted on said back, an arm on each of said sideframes extending laterally therefrom, a knee rest pivotally mounted onsaid back, and fingers on said knee rest engageable, respectively, withsaid arms for automatically swinging said frames toward each other whensaid knee rest is swung about its pivot toward said back.

5. In a folding prayer rail, the combination of a back, a pair of sideframes pivotally mounted on said back adjacent the respective endportions thereof, an arm on each of said side frames extending laterallytherefrom, a knee rest pivotally mounted on said back, and fingers onsaid knee rest engageable, respectively, with said arms forautomatically swinging said frames toward each other and intoinoperative position when said knee rest is swung about its pivot towardsaid back, said fingers being also operatively related to said sideframes for automatically swinging said frames away from each other tooperative position when the knee rest is swung in the opposite directionaway from said back.

6. In a folding prayer rail, the combination of a back, a pair of sideframes pivotally mounted on said back adjacent the respective endsthereof, an arm on each of said side frames adjacent the pivotalconnection thereof with said back and extending laterally from saidframe, a knee rest pivotally mounted on said back, fingers on said kneerest engageable, respectively, with said arms for automatically swingingsaid frames toward each other when said knee rest is swung about itspivot toward said back, and lugs on said side frames cooperable withsaid knee rest for supporting the knee rest thereon when in operativeposition.

7. In a folding prayer rail, the combination of a back, a pair of sideframes pivotally mounted on said back adjacent the respective endsthereof and adapted to be folded into substantially parallel relationwith respect to the back, an arm on each of said side frames adjacentthe pivotal connection thereof with said back and extending laterallyfrom said frame, a knee rest pivotally mounted on said back and adaptedto be folded into substantially parallel relation with respect thereto,and fingers on said knee rest engageable, respectively, with said armsfor automatically swinging said side frames toward each other and intosubstantially parallel relation with respect to said back when said kneerest is swung about its pivot and into substantially parallel relationto said back.

8(In a folding prayer rail, the combination of a back, a pair of sideframes pivotally mounted on said back, an arm on each of said sideframes extending laterally therefrom, a knee rest pivotally mounted onsaid back, and fingers on said knee rest engageable, respectively, withsaid arms for automatically swinging said frames toward each other tofolded position when said knee rest is swung about its pivot toward saidback, said fingers being movable to a position between said arms forresisting the unfolding movement of said side frames about theirrespective pivots and away from each other until said knee rest andfingers are moved away from said back and from between said arms.

9. In a folding prayer rail, the combination of a back, a pair of sideframes pivotally connected adjacent their upper and lower end portionsto the respective end portions of said back, an arm on each of said sideframes adjacent their upper pivotal connections with the frame, a kneerest pivotally mounted on said back and adapted to be supported by saidside frames, and actuating members adjacent the forward edge portion ofsaid knee rest and engageable, respectively, with said arms for swingingthe side frames in an inwardly direction toward each other and towardsaid back when the knee rest is swung about its pivot toward said back,said actuating members being movable to a position between said arms forresisting" the movement of the side frames in the opposite directionaway from each other until said knee rest and actuating members aremoved away from said back.

10. In a folding prayer rail, the combination of a back, a pair of sideframes pivotally mounted on said back, and a knee rest pivotally mountedon said back and having a portion engageable with a portion of one ofsaid side frames for swinging said one of the frames on its pivot whenthe knee rest is swung on its pivot toward said back.

WILLIAM F. LISKA.

